Southwest reissues 737 safety cards to allay MAX fears

737 MAX 8 is no longer mentioned on 737-800 seatback advisories

Southwest has replaced seatback safety cards that cover both the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8.

Southwest has replaced seatback safety cards that cover both the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8.

Photo: Southwest

Photo: Southwest

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Southwest has replaced seatback safety cards that cover both the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8.

Southwest has replaced seatback safety cards that cover both the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8.

Photo: Southwest

Southwest reissues 737 safety cards to allay MAX fears

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A few months ago, not long after the FAA ordered the grounding of all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, we noted that the seatback safety information cards in Southwest Airlines' 737-800s might be a cause of confusion and concern for some customers because the cards referenced both the 737-800 and the 737 MAX 8.

At the time, Southwest didn't think it would be a problem, but in recent weeks the airline has quietly replaced those safety cards with new ones that only mention the 737-800.

The earlier safety cards were issued before the MAX grounding because the same safety information applied to both aircraft types, Southwest told us at the time. But infrequent travelers who weren't aware of the FAA-ordered grounding might have thought 737 MAX 8 was just another way of referring to a 737-800.

A Southwest official told USA Today this week that the cards were changed "to alleviate any confusion from customers so they know exactly what type of aircraft they are on." A separate new safety card was also printed for the MAX 8, but it obviously won't be seen until that aircraft starts flying again.

The safety card reissue is a tacit admission by Southwest that some customers probably wouldn't want to fly on the troubled 737 MAX 8. The airline has 34 of the planes in its fleet. American has 24 737 MAX 8s and United has 14 of the larger 737 MAX 9 model. All three carriers have had to reshuffle their schedules after the planes were grounded.

Last month, a UBS survey of more than 1,000 consumers found that almost 70 percent said they would be hesitant to book a flight on a 737 MAX. But it also found that two-thirds of the respondents said they rarely if ever check to see what kind of aircraft they are booking. UBS said the poll suggests consumer fears of the MAX are likely to fade over time after the FAA approves Boeing's fixes for the plane and it starts flying again.

When that might happen is still unknown. After months of work by Boeing engineers to resolve the original software problems that led to two 737 MAX crashes, another defect in the aircraft was discovered several weeks ago. Specifically, the FAA said, the aircraft's "leading edge slat tracks may have been improperly manufactured and may not meet all applicable regulatory requirements for strength and durability." That problem is likely to delay the recertification of the aircraft even longer.

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In its most recent schedule update, Southwest said it has now removed the 737 MAX from its schedules through October 1, affecting 150 flights a day.

The FAA has declined to estimate when it might give its approval to the fixes being made to the aircraft. "The FAA is following a thorough process, not a prescribed timeline, for returning the Boeing 737 Max to passenger service. The FAA will lift the aircraft's prohibition order when we deem it is safe to do so," the agency said.